Belgian Defense Minister Andre Flahaut arrived here Wednesday for a one-day working visit focused on his country's involvement in the training of Democratic Republic of Congo's army.An AFP correspondent said Flahaut was geeted at Kinshaha airport by his Congolese counterpart, General Jean-Pierre Ondekane.
Belgium agreed in February to send military instructors to train Congolese troops in peacekeeping operations.
Flahaut was accompanied by four members of the Belgian parliament.
Belgium, the former colonial power, has said it would help in the creation of a reunified and integrated Congolese army capable of defending the national territory as the country emerges from a long war in which some 2.5 million people were killed.
In Brussels meanwhile Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht is to discuss the situation in the Great Lakes region with his counterpart from Burundi, his office said.
De Gucht will meet Burundian external relations minister Therence Sinunguruza, as well as with Dutch cooperation and development minister Agnes Van Ardenne, whose country holds the EU presidency.
"The situation in Burundi and in the Great Lakes region will be discussed at these two meetings," said a ministry statement.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2003 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.
Quick Links
SpaceWar
Search SpaceWar
Subscribe To SpaceWar Express
